Perseid Meteor Shower is Tonight, 3 State Parks to Remain Open For Viewing

Three state parks on Long Island will remain open overnight Thursday to give sky-gazers the chance to catch a spectacular meteor shower.

It's the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower, with up to 150 "shooting stars" possibly streaking across the skies.

The peak comes late Thursday night into the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 12. The best views will come after 1 a.m. Friday when the moon has set, says Astronomy magazine.

State Parks that will remain open for viewing are:

• Jones Beach State Park - West End II
• Gov. Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park - Field 3
• Montauk Point State Park - Upper Parking Lot

There will be no charge and the normal star gazing permit will not be required, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said. You must remain near your vehicle.

Parks officials suggest you dress appropriately, bring bug spray, and a chair that reclines. Binoculars are not necessary. Just look toward the northeast and enjoy the celestial show.

In a typical year, observers under a clear dark sky can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour. But the planet Jupiter recently nudged the debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet closer to Earth, which could mean up to 150 meteors per hour the night of Aug. 11-12.

NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke says the Perseids will be in "outburst" this month, which means they'll appear at double the usual rates. Learn more about the 2016 Perseid meteor shower in this video.

The key to seeing a meteor shower is to go to a dark area, in the suburbs or countryside, and prepare to sit outside for a few hours. It takes about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and the longer you wait outside, the more you'll see, Cooke says.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms on Long Island Thursday night could dim the chances of seeing any meteors. If that's the case, you can catch a live broadcast of the Perseid meteor shower courtesy of NASA beginning at 10 p.m. here.